Figure



March 24, 1954 w. J. wALsTAD ET AL 3,126,118

ADJUSTABLE CASE Filed Feb. 15, 1963 LE-..21- 32 u Y /28 28" I 5o l \so 304-- 2 4 Q f wf 2e 3028 zehs vles ao 2@ o Il I INVENTORS I KV muh, 2f Rov R. HAMADY BY WALTER J. wALsTAD l2 4s --44 I0 f y af. 26M l/ Avro Nev United States Patent O 3,126,118 ADEUSTABLE CASE Walter Il. Walstad, S21 W. 2nd St., and Roy R. Hamady, 1715 Detroit St., both of Flint, Mich. Filed Feb. l5, 1963, Ser. No. 258,360 Claims. (Cl. 217-7) This invention relates to adjustable cases and more particularly to adjustable means for retaining cartons against interior partitions of compartmented cases the compartments of which are of greater size than said cartons.

Bottled beverages are frequently packed in cardboard cartons or packages, often called a six pack, containing six beverage bottles each of a particular uniform diameter. Such cartons, in turn, are conventionally packed in groups of four in compartmented wooden cases. Each such case is customarily divided into four rectangular compartments, each of identical size and disposed to receive one of said cartons, by a pair of interior partitions extending between the midpoints of each pair of opposing, parallel outer sidewalls of said case and intersection each other at a right angle at the center of said case so as to divide the case into quarters. For convenience, such cases shall be referred to hereinafter simply as four compartment cases. Conventionally, such cases come in two sizes, a larger size adapted to receive four cartons each containing six bottles of twelve ounce capacity, and a smaller size adapted to receive four cartons of each containing six bottles of six ounce capacity.

To load such cartons and cases, bottlers of beverages first manually insert four empty cartons into the four compartments of such a case. The case is then placed upon a conveyor whereby it is conveyed to a point beneath an overhead grid which holds twenty-four filled bottles, arranged in four columns and twelve rows, and suspended above the case in such position as to allow them to be dropped vertically downward to ll the cartons with six bottles to a carton. The loading mechanism is then caused to function in the conventional manner, whereby the grid drops the bottles into the cartons. The case is then moved further along the conveyor and another similar case, containing four more empty cartons is brought to a position beneath the grid for loading in a similar manner. A grid having certain specific dimensions is required to load twelve ounce bottles and a separate grid having different dimensions is required to load six ounce bottles, since the dimensions, such as the diameter, of twelve ounce bottles differ from those of six ounce bottles, and the larger cartons necessary to contain twelve ounce bottles occupy a greater area beneath the grid.

Some cases, however, are divided by a plurality of interior partitions into twenty-four square compartments each of a size such as to snugly receive a single beverage bottle of appropriate diameter. A familiar example is such a case commonly used for storing and transporting six ounce bottles of Coca Cola. For convenience, all such cases shall be referred to hereinafter simply as twenty-four compartment cases. No cardboard carton or six pack is needed or, indeed, employable when such a case is utilized. In loading such a case, the same procedure is followed as in loading a four compartment case except that no cardboard carton is placed within the case.

A grid adapted to load twenty-four six ounce bottles into a twenty-four compartment case disposed to receive such may also be used, without modification, to load the same number and size of bottles into the four cartons of a four compartment case adapted to receive such. Even though each carton contained by the four-com- 3,126,118 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 ICC partment case is spaced slightly from each of the other three cartons by the interior partitions which quarter the case and form the four compartments, and each of the six bottles to be disposed within each carton are to be in contact with adjacent bottles within the carton, Whereas each of the bottles to be loaded Within the twentyfour compartment case will be separated from each adjacent bottle a uniform distance by the thickness of an interior partition, nonetheless there is sutlicient tolerance and clearance that the same grid may be used to load either case so long as only twelve ounce bottles, or only six ounce bottles, are loaded. This allows the bottler to fill conventional twenty-four compartment cases and four compartment cases interchangeably and in any order, without changing the grid used for such purpose, so long as the bottles are of a uniform diameter and the cases of appropriate size, and so long as the thicknesses of the interior partitions of the four compartment case are not unconventionally great.

It should be noted, however, that only cases adapted to receive bottles of a correct diameter, corresponding to that of the bottles for which the particular grid is adapted, may be thus interchangeably used with the particular grid. For example, a four compartment case adapted to receive six ounce bottles cannot be loaded by a grid adapted to load twelve ounce bottles. Neither can a four compartment case adapted to receive twelve ounce bottles be loaded by a grid adapted to load six ounce bottles, even though an empty carton for six ounce bottles can be accommodated within each compartment, since the carton is not snugly retained against the interior partitions of the compartment so as to maintain the several cartons spaced from each other only by the thickness of the partitions.

It is highly advantageous for bottlers and merchants to be able to store and transport in the same type of case twenty-four identical beverage bottles of either of two conventional diameters, and for bottlers to be able to load mixed groups of such cases with twenty-four such bottles without having to change, during a run, the grid currently in use with the bottling apparatus. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved beverage bottle case adapted to receive in compartments a plurality of bottles having either of two uniform diameters.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a four compartment case disposed to receive a plurality of bottles having a uniform larger diameter, means for adapting said case to snugly receive an equal number of bottles having a uniform smaller diameter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a case having four adjustable compartments adapted snugly to retain a plurality of bottles having either of two uniform diameters, said case being disposed to be loaded by a grid adapted also to load an equal plurality of bottles of equal diameters into a case having a plurality of equally spaced compartments each disposed to receive a single bottle of such diameter.

The above and other objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this speciiication in which like characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, and wherein:

FIGURE l is a plan view of an adjustable case arranged to receive a plurality of bottles each having a uniform, larger diameter.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of an adjustable case ar- 3 ranged to receive a plurality of bottles each having a uniform, smaller diameter.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a conventional four compartment case bearing a modi'lied form of the invention and disposed to receive a plurality of bottles each having a uniform, larger diameter.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of a portion of a conventional four compartment case bearing a modified form of the invention and disposed to receive a plurality of bottles each having a uniform, smaller diameter.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View of a portion of an adjustable case showing a modied form of the invention adapted for use as locking means for a rotatable cross member.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, generally indicated at 10 is a rectangular case or receptacle preferably fashioned of wood and having a bottom 12, a pair of spaced, parallel sides 14, 14, and a pair of parallel ends 16, 16 of shorter length than said sides, secured together by conventional means such as screws, nails, or the like (not shown). A pair of slots 18, 18 is formed in ends 16, 16 to provide means for manually gripping and handling the case.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES l through 4, inclusive, we provide a pair of cross members 20 and 22 arranged at a right angle to each other pivotally supported between ends 16, 16 and sides 14, 14, respectively, of case 10, at the midpoints thereof, and each adapted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, as disclosed in our co-pending application, Serial No. 219,571, filed August 27, 1962, for Adjustably Compartmented Case. Cross members 20 and 22 form interior partitions dividing case 10 into four symmetrical rectangular compartments of equal size, each adapted to snugly receive a conventional cardboard carton 24 disposed to hold six conventional beverage bottles 26 of a relatively large diameter, as, for example, twelve ounce bottles of Pepsi Cola. Cross members 20 andy 22 are preferably square in cross section, but may have any other cross section which will present a uniform width in the horizontal plane passing through its longitudinal axis when the cross member has been rotated into either of two positions each 90 apart. Y

A spacer generally indicated at 28 in FIGURES 1 through 4, inclusive, is provided at each end of each cross member 20 and 22, and consists of a pair of arms 30, 30 extending outwardly at a right angle to the cross member 20 or 22 by which it is borne for form in conjunction therewith a T-shaped coniiguration. It is important to note that the spacers 28 borne by each cross member 20 or 22 lie entirely within a single plane of such cross member.

In operation, when cross members 20 and 22 are each rotated to a position such that the arms 30, 30 are disposed in a vertical plane as best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, case 1t! is thereby divided into four identical rectangular compartments, each of full size and adapted to snugly receive a carton 14 disposed to receive six bottles of larger diameter, such as twelve ounce bottles 26, therein. The same grid adapted to ll said cartons and case may, however, also be used to till a conventional twentyfour compartment case with bottles of similar size.

When it is desired to adapt case 10 to snugly receive four smaller cartons 32, each disposed to receive six 24 bottles of relatively smaller diameter as, for example, six ounce bottles of Coca Cola, cross members 20 and 22 are each rotated 90 so that arms 30, 30 are disposed within a horizontal plane, as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Each smaller carton 32 is then snugly retained against cross members 26 and 22 by those arms 30, 30 which lie between the outer end and side, respectively, of the carton. It is not necessary that arms 30, 30 extend to the adjacent outer sidewall, nor should they be so long as to strike bottom 12 and thus prevent spacer 28 from being rotated, or to extend upwardly above the upper edge of case 10 when the spacer lies Within a vertical plane; they need extend only a sufficient distance to support cartons 32 against cross member Ztl and 22 and retain the cartons against horizontal slippage. The same grid adapted to fill said cartons and case may be also used to fill a conventional twenty-four compartment case with bottles of similar size.

In the modified form of our invention shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6, we provide spacers generally indicated at 36 and each consisting of a pair of identical elongated strips of metal superimposed upon each other, within a recess 38 in the upper surface near each end of the conventional rigid partitions 4t), of equal thickness which bisect a horizontal dimension of case 16, and divide the case into four quarters, and pivotally connected near their outer ends to each other and to the partition by a screw 42 or the like extending downwardly through apertures (not shown) therein to form a pair of pivotable arms 44, 44. When it is desired to adapt case 16 to receive larger cartons, as cartons 24, arms 44, 44 are placed in superposition with each other within recess 38, as best shown in FIGURE 5. When it is desired to adapt case 10 to receive smaller cartons, as cartons 32, arms 44, 44 are swung outwardly within a horizontal plane, about screw 42 as a pivot, until they rest against the proximate sidewall of case 16, as best shown in FIGURE 6. In such position arms 44, 44 space smaller cartons 32 from the outer walls of case 1t) and retain them snugly against interior partitions 49. If desired, additional vertical support may be provided for arms 44, 44 when thus extended by forming a pair of channel-like recesses 46, 46 in the inner surface of the proximate outer sidewall of case 1t) to receive and vertically support the arms near their outer ends when the arms are swing fully outwardly. The position of screw 42 is moved slightly toward the center of case 10 in such event so that arms 44, 44 may be swung through an arc slightly in excess of in length in order to extend into recesses 46, 46. In the alternative, small projections (not shown) may be provieded on the inner surface of the proximate outer sidewall of case 10 to provide vertical support for arms 44, 44 in their extended position.

It should be noted that the modied form of our invention may, as shown in FIGURE 7, be utilized with rotating cross members such as cross members 20 and 22 of the preferred embodiment of our invention. When the rotatable cross members rest in such a position that arms 44, 44 lie within horizontal planes, the arms may be pivotally extended in the manner and for the purpose heretofore described. When, however, the rotatable cross member is rotated 90 about its longitudinal axis to the position assumed by cross member 20 in FIGURE 7, arms 44, 44, folded into superposition, may be permitted to drop downward together, so that the lower ends thereof are engaged within a channel-like recess 48 provided in bottom 12, whereby the cross member is effectively locked against further rotation until the arms are manually raised and disengaged from the recess.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same and that resort may be had to various changes in construction without departing from the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable case comprising, a receptacle having a bottom, two end walls and two sidewalls, a longitudinal cross member rotatably supported midway between the ends of said end walls and bearing at each end a pair of arms arranged at a right angle to said longitudinal cross member and within a plane passing therethrough, a transverse cross member rotatably supported midway between the ends of said sidewalls and bearing at each end a second pair of arms arranged at a right angle to said transverse cross member and within a plane passing therethrough, said cross members each having identical cross sections which present a uniform width in the horizontal plane thereof in each of two rotational positions 90 apart, to divide the interior of said receptacle into four compartments each disposed to retain a rectangular carton having relatively larger horizontal dimensions when said arms are disposed within vertical planes, and to retain a rectangular carton having relatively smaller horizontal dimensions when said arms are disposed within horizontal planes, each contiguous, non-cornering pair of cartons being spaced a uniform distance apart.

2. An adjustable case comprising, a receptacle having a bottom, two end walls and two sidewalls, a transverse cross member rotatably supported midway between the ends of said end walls and bearing at each end a pair of arms pivotally attached thereto and adapted to be pivotally extended at substantially a right angle thereto within a plane passing therethrough, a transverse cross member rotatably supported midway between the ends of said sidewalls and bearing at each end a second pair of arms pivotally attached thereto and adapted to be pivotally extended at substantially a right angle thereto within a plane passing therethrough, to divide the interior of said receptacle into four compartments each disposed to retain a rectangular carton having relatively larger horizontal dimensions when said arms are disposed parallel to the longitudinal axes of the cross members to which they are attached, respectively, and to retain a rectangular carton having relatively smaller horizontal dimensions when said arms are extended at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axes of the cross members to which they are attached, respectively, and within horizontal planes.

3. The device of claim 2 having a pair of channel-like recesses in the inner surface of the walls of said receptacle flanking the ends of said cross members and adapted to receive and vertically support said arms near their outer ends when said arms are extended.

4. The device of claim 2 having a channel-like recess in the bottom of said receptacle and adapted to receive the lower ends of said arms when said arms extend downwardly, to lock said arms and the cross member to which said arms are attached against rotation about the longitudinal axis of said cross member.

5. An adjustable case comprising, a receptacle having a bottom, four sides, and a pair of rigid interior partitions disposed at a right angle to each other and dividing said receptacle into four identical compartments, a pair of arms pivotally attached to each partition near each end thereof and adapted to be pivotally extended at substantially a right angle thereto within a horizontal plane, to retain within each compartment, when said arms are disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the partitions to which they are attached, a rectangular carton having relatively larger horizontal dimensions, and to retain within each said compartment, when said arms are extended, a rectangular carton having relatively smaller horizontal dimensions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 899,924 Valerius Sept. 29, 1908 933,266 Rice et al. Sept. 7, 1909 969,135 Crabtree Aug. 30, 1910 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE CASE COMPRISING, A RECEPTACLE HAVING A BOTTOM, TWO END WALLS AND TWO SIDEWALLS, A LONGITUDINAL CROSS MEMBER ROTATABLY SUPPORT MIDWAY BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID END WALLS AND BEARING AT EACH END A PAIR OF ARMS ARRANGED AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO SAID LONGITUDINAL CROSS MEMBER AND WITHIN A PLANE PASSING THERETHROUGH, A TRANSVERSE CROSS MEMBER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID SIDEWALLS AND BEARING AT EACH END A SECOND PAIR OF ARMS ARRANGED AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO SAID TRANSVERSE CROSS MEMBER AND WITHIN A PLANE PASSING THERETHROUGH, SAID CROSS MEMBERS EACH HAVING IDENTICAL CROSS SECTIONS WHICH PRESENT A UNIFORM WIDTH IN THE HORIZONTAL PLANE THEREOF IN EACH OF TWO ROTATIONAL POSITIONS 90* APART, TO DIVIDE THE INTERIOR OF SAID RECEPTACLE INTO FOUR COMPARTMENTS EACH DISPOSED TO RETAIN A RECTANGULAR CARTON HAVING RELATIVELY LARGER HORIZONTAL DIMENSIONS WHEN SAID ARMS ARE DISPOSED WITHIN VERTICAL PLANES, AND TO RETAIN A RECTANGULAR CARTON HAVING RELATIVELY SMALLER HORIZONTAL DIMENSIONS WHEN SAID ARMS ARE DISPOSED WITHIN HORIZONTAL PLANES, EACH CONTIGUOUS, NON-CORNERING PAIR OF CARTONS BEING SPACED A UNIFORM DISTANCE APART. 